Wednesday, May 7, 2025 668

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DURANGO, Colo. — With moments of comic relief, heartfelt speeches, and a selfie request from incoming President Heather Shotton, Fort Lewis College celebrated its Spring 2025 Commencement this past weekend.

Blending humor and raw honesty, keynote speaker Tommy Orange, acclaimed author of There, There and Wandering Stars, reflected on his path from struggling student to award-winning writer and called on graduates to seize the moment.

“I want to talk to you about how graduating is not about a degree, and not about how that might translate to a job. I want to talk to you about how being in this ceremony means you belong to the work you put in,” Orange said.

“All the time you spent worrying and writing and thinking about how you were going to get through the next day, the next paper, the next test. That time is you: your one and only life. So please allow the honoring of this ceremony to mean what it should mean: that you made it. You created this moment by working through all the times you didn't think you could.”

First commencement

As one of his final duties as interim president, Steve Schwartz introduced Shotton, who officially begins her role July 1.

“She’s a nationally respected scholar and leader and brings more than two decades of experience in higher education,” Schwartz said. “Her vision and leadership have already shaped the Fort Lewis community, and we’re thrilled that she will be leading us into the future.”

Shotton greeted the crowd with humor, asking graduates if they would help her send a photo to her mom.

“My mom would like a picture of me. Would you all mind taking a quick selfie today?” she asked, smiling. Teasing graduates that parents still want photos of key moments, no matter how old they are, she told them, “Okay, just so you know—it never ends.”

She then turned reflective, encouraging students to pause and consider the significance of their achievement, not only for themselves, but also for their families, communities, and everyone who supported them.

“In the past few weeks, I’ve marveled at the brilliance of our students,” Shotton said, citing research projects on local transportation issues, water quality in the Animas River and Florida Watershed, and the connection between treaty rights and environmental health. “Your curiosity and dedication not only deepen knowledge—they inspire hope for our future.”

Shotton acknowledged the pride felt by faculty and staff across campus and thanked families for entrusting FLC with their students. 

“Graduates, thank you for gifting us the honor of working with you. Now, FLC graduates, please give yourselves a roaring standing ovation. Stand up. You've done it.”

Finding his voice

In his remarks, Orange reflected on how Native students often navigate higher education by unlearning colonial narratives and described his own growth from self-doubt to success.

“I made my way as a writer, clearing my throat for years with my writing, getting it out of the way, that I wasn't dumb, that I was capable, worthy of writing,” he said.

Orange urged students to reflect on how far they’ve come and to acknowledge their journey.

“We need to stop everything to say thank you to all that the world is when we have made it through something hard, when the work is done,” he said. “Getting degrees matters because we need markers, moments, and ceremonies to stop to say thank you to those who helped us along the way. Our families, our friends, administrators, anyone who helped us believe in ourselves when we failed to.”

“Take in the moment so that you can bring it with you for the road ahead, which is uncertain. And we all know it’ll be filled with difficulty and heartache because that is part of what life seems to be meant to do to us—to push us, to almost break us, to make us want to quit, and then find our second wind.”

Orange encouraged graduates to remain hopeful. “The future you’ve been working toward isn’t the one we’re leaving you, but the one you’re going to make.”

Student perspectives

Graduate Brittaney Bitsilly, outgoing president of the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College, said Orange’s message left a lasting impression. Bitsilly, who double majored in political science and Native American and Indigenous studies, said his words resonated deeply.

“I’ve never met a more down-to-earth, humble Indigenous voice I admire,” she said. “His authenticity and innovation speak to the complexities of our lived experiences.”

In her own address—delivered slam-poetry style—Bitsilly reminded graduates of the power they hold.

"Find out who you are and be not afraid,

Let your light shine, embrace this accolade.

Because you've fought tears and academic fears

Amidst a fast-paced world in a few years

Remember, we are the future, we are the hope."

Faculty Senate President Dave Blake praised the resilience of the Class of 2025, many of whom balanced school, work, family responsibilities, and the challenges of being first-generation college students.

“The degree you're receiving today is not just a piece of paper,” Blake said. “It's an understanding of critical thought, resilience, empathy, and global awareness. It’s a foundation for building inclusive communities, advocating for justice, and applying science and reason to solve the world's most complex problems.”

Blake encouraged graduates to pause and appreciate their moment of achievement, not as a conclusion, but as a beginning.

“This ceremony is not a finish line,” he said. “It’s a pause before the next climb to the top.”